AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas Senate committee is set to discuss a bill Monday that would ban all forms of THC, the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana.
Texas Senate Bill 3, backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, aims to address concerns that unregulated THC products are being sold in stores across the state.
Patrick claims that retailers are exploiting a legal loophole and selling dangerous products. In 2019, the commercialization of hemp was legalized in Texas. The Hemp Farming Act allowed for the cultivation of hemp that contained no more than a 0.3% concentration of delta-9 THC, the main intoxicating ingredient in marijuana.
Patrick claims that stores are targeting children with “dangerous” delta-9 products.
Business owners sound the alarm
While some business owners support increased regulations, including age limits, they argue that a full ban would go too far.
“There are so many benefits to cannabis, I’d hate to see it go away if this bill passes,” THC retailer Chris Powers told KHOU 11 News following Patrick’s announcement in December.
Powers sells cannabis-infused products at his business, Hydroshack Hydroponics, in northwest Houston. For years, he’s continued THC sales despite numerous legal battles in Texas regarding the hemp industry.
“It’s very difficult to build a business when the laws keep changing,” he said. “If the Lt. Governor gets his wish, it will be devastating for Texas. Customers will go back to buying it illegally on the street. The way we do it now, we’re buying from reputable large companies. We know everything that we sell is pure.”
Powers buys many of his products from Hometown Hero, an Austin company that sells Delta-8, Delta 9, and CBD. The company’s Chief Strategy Officer, Cynthia Cabrera, is also the president of the Texas Hemp Business Council.
“It’s disappointing, but it didn’t come as a surprise,” Cabrera said of Patrick’s proposed ban.
Cabrera told KHOU 11 News that she supports industry regulations, including age limits, but believes a ban goes too far. She claimed a ban would impact the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people.
“If this ban passes, businesses will close their doors, they’ll default on retail spaces, and people will lose their homes. The ripple effect will be huge,” she said. “Over 50,000 thousand people employed in the industry, and it’s quite a blow, to hear they have no problem trying to ban the industry rather than just implementing an age gate.”
What do Texans think?
A survey of voters released in February by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at UH looked into how Texans feel about various marijuana-related topics.
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Shifting attitudes towards recreational use
While support for medical marijuana is highest, a majority of Texans also favor more lenient policies regarding recreational use:
The survey revealed some variations in support along party lines, though majorities in both parties favor recreational use:
Decriminalization
There’s also bipartisan support for the decriminalization of marijuana.
Medical marijuana gains widespread approval
The survey shows that an impressive 79% of Texans support legalizing the sale and use of medical marijuana with a prescription. This strong backing for medical cannabis cuts across various demographic groups, suggesting a broad consensus on its potential therapeutic benefits.
Conflicting views on THC products
Interestingly, despite strong support for marijuana reform, more than half of Texans back Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s proposed ban on THC consumables, which are currently unregulated in the state. This support varies significantly across demographics:
What happens next?
The Senate State Affairs Committee will take up the measure as lawmakers weigh the potential impact on businesses and consumers.
